A water-soluble pillar[5] arene-based chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive fluorescence detection of L-methionine

(L)-Methionine ((L)-Met) is an essential amino acid for the human body. The detection of (L)-Met in water solution is very important. Herein, we report an efficient approach for the fluorescent detection of (L)-Met with high selectivity and sensitivity in water using a cationic pillar[5] arene-based chemosensor (AWP5). When various (L)-amino acids are added to the AWP5 water solution, only (L)-Met can induce fluorescence in AWP5 at lem = 520 nm, showing dramatic enhancement; thus, other amino acid do not interfere in the (L)-Met recognition process. AWP5 also shows high sensitivity for (L)-Met in water, with the lowest detection limit of AWP5 for (L)-Met being 5.46 x 10(-7) mol L-1.